What conditions are needed for taro cultivation? A detailed explanation of the latest cultivation requirements
Taro is grown very widely across the country and is a cash crop. Taro is easy to digest, tastes good, and contains water, vitamin A and other nutrients. It helps protect teeth, treat fatigue and more. It can also strengthen the human body's immunity, and it is a food that many people love. So what conditions are needed to grow taro? Let us take a look together below.
1. Temperature
Taro's places of origin are generally areas with high temperatures and plenty of moisture, and over long periods of cultivation different varieties have formed, such as water taro and dryland taro. But whether it is water taro or dryland taro, they all need to grow and develop in a high-temperature, high-humidity environment. The optimum temperature for the corm to begin developing is around 14 degrees, around 22 degrees is the optimum temperature needed for seedling growth, and the tillering stage needs a temperature of around 25 degrees. A large day-night temperature difference is beneficial to the growth of the taro corm; during the corm stage the temperature needed during the day is around 30 degrees, and at night around 20 degrees.
2. Moisture
Taro itself contains very abundant moisture, so it also needs relatively more water during cultivation. Whether it is water taro or dryland taro, the growing environment needs to be a relatively moist area. During the growth period of dryland taro the soil must be moist, especially during the growth periods of the corm and the leaves; these two stages are the stages that need water most, and sufficient moisture must be ensured. Also, during the corm formation stage, watering in a little Diguo Zhuangdiling enhances taro's vitality, improves quality and achieves high yield. In addition, water taro needs a water layer during its growth period, but the water amount should be controlled one week before harvest to increase its storage value.
3. Light
Taro is a food that grows underground and has a relatively small need for light; it prefers weak light. Too strong light will affect taro's normal growth and development, but taro can grow better under scattered light, and during the corm formation stage and the expansion stage it has a certain requirement for the length of light exposure.
4. Soil
As said earlier, taro is a crop that needs a lot of moisture, and the soil should be relatively moist, but different varieties need different soils. Water taro needs to be planted in paddy fields or ditches. Although dryland taro can grow in dry land, it still maintains the growth pattern of an aquatic crop during its growth process, so it is still best to plant it in areas with moist soil. Taro also has relatively high requirements for fertilizer and nutrients; the soil should contain abundant organic matter and have a moderate pH. It is not suitable for barren land.
What taro needs most during the cultivation and growth process is moisture. Insufficient moisture will make taro's taste worse and make it all fibrous. This affects taro's quality and makes it hard to sell, so during taro's growth process you must water frequently to ensure taro's moisture needs. However, moisture should not be excessive either, because if there is too much moisture, it will affect taro's storage after harvest.